RownhamHill wrote:As a fairly new, UK based, cycling fan, I don't have enough understanding of the classics to get a strong grasp on whether this is a sensible view, or just non-sensical hype.

Normally it's the latter. Winning a stage in TDU doesn't make you a L-B-L contender, and G has never really been good in the hills. But according to this great article, winning a stage in TDU is a better indication of classic talent than being 2nd at Worlds.

Anyhow, since he's British and from Sky normal logic and progression doesn't apply. I guess he'll probably podium TDF this year and win all 5 monuments.

maltiv wrote:Normally it's the latter. Winning a stage in TDU doesn't make you a L-B-L contender, and G has never really been good in the hills. But according to this great article, winning a stage in TDU is a better indication of classic talent than being 2nd at Worlds.

The first bit was my reaction. Not sure I follow the second bit - who is it came second at the worlds who is being unfairly maligned?

maltiv wrote: Anyhow, since he's British and from Sky normal logic and progression doesn't apply. I guess he'll probably podium TDF this year and win all 5 monuments.

maltiv wrote:Normally it's the latter. Winning a stage in TDU doesn't make you a L-B-L contender, and G has never really been good in the hills. But according to this great article, winning a stage in TDU is a better indication of classic talent than being 2nd at Worlds.

Anyhow, since he's British and from Sky normal logic and progression doesn't apply. I guess he'll probably podium TDF this year and win all 5 monuments.

I love the way you you give EBH a mention everytime

How is 2nd at Worlds any idication on any talent on cobbles ( as EBH said he's big target is PR ) I have no clue ? Did the Worlds include cobbles or what ?

Plus the Worlds weren't hard at all, compared to normal versions of races like Ronde or PR.

EBH said he was at best shape last year and still failed at PR. Let's say that I have more faith in Thomas producing on cobbles than EBH.

I hope EBH proves me wrong though of course, but I don't have much faith in him on cobbles .

Afrank wrote:Thomas has shown some promise of being good on the cobbles, he won junior Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and was 2nd on the cobble stage in the 2010 Tour.

Meanwhile you forget his best result of 10th at Ronde where he was voted the best domesqtiue that day puling flecha and hincapie back to the main group as probably most impresive feat except his work early on the race etc.

Ryo Hazuki wrote:horrible. boonen just the same guy as years before and this course is too hard for him. that's why he rode like a coward there were at least 3 guys stronger than boonen today and none of them won: sagan, ballan, pozzato

The Hitch wrote:Goss will woop boonens candy a[color="Black"]ss[/color] in a sprint he cares about, any day of the week

Richeypen wrote:G will at least podium P-R one day. He has never shown anything in the Ardennes though. Henao, Uran, EBH and JTL will fight out Skys Ardennes leadership

Flanders is much better for G then PR, although he might also be able podium there if he would focus on it, but I think his focus is going more and more towards going for GCs. Whether that is in one week races or GTs only time will tell.

On that Sky TV documentary / love-in series last year, Thomas said he expected to be a Tour contender within a couple of years (or something along those lines). A few years ago that would have been a joke but nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if Eisel did the cobbles double and Zandio won the Vuelta

Ruudz0r wrote:Flanders is much better for G then PR, although he might also be able podium there if he would focus on it, but I think his focus is going more and more towards going for GCs. Whether that is in one week races or GTs only time will tell.

Maybe in the past but the Flanders route is now joke. Glorified ardennes route

How is 2nd at Worlds any idication on any talent on cobbles ( as EBH said he's big target is PR ) I have no clue ? Did the Worlds include cobbles or what ?

Plus the Worlds weren't hard at all, compared to normal versions of races like Ronde or PR.

EBH said he was at best shape last year and still failed at PR. Let's say that I have more faith in Thomas producing on cobbles than EBH.

I hope EBH proves me wrong though of course, but I don't have much faith in him on cobbles .

I didn't mention cobbles at all, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. I agree he has no chance whatsoever in P-R. Neither does Geraint Thomas, to be honest, normally he should be way too light for that race.

Afrank wrote:Thomas has shown some promise of being good on the cobbles, he won junior Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and was 2nd on the cobble stage in the 2010 Tour.

That result in the Tour doesn't count for anything classics wise, Schleck and VdB were in the top10 that day too. This said, I believe that his 2nd place on Waregem and 10th on the Ronde are good indicators that he can have some cobbled potential.
If he can become a regular top10 on Ronde/Roubaix he can win one of them, specially Roubaix since luck plays such a big role.
About his talent on the hills, specially LBL type, I think it remains to be proven: it's not like TDU is a good indicator of that. Still, it's fair to say that he was impressive on Corkscrew.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him become wherever Sky wants him too: from cobbled classics rider to GT contender. If they could change Froome, Thomas has shown far more until now than Froome ever had.

trevim wrote:I wouldn't be surprised to see him become wherever Sky wants him too: from cobbled classics rider to GT contender. If they could change Froome, Thomas has shown far more until now than Froome ever had.

Thomas is older now than Froome was when he was 2nd in the Vuelta though.